Who We Are

FASworld

Brian Philcox and Bonnie Buxton are co-founders of FASworld and parents of two adopted daughters, each with mental health issues. They raised their two grandchildren for 9 years, until their birth mother was able to take over. One of their grandchildren has ARND. Brian and Bonnie, along with their colleague and mentor, Teresa Kellerman, started FASDay in 1999.

Bonnie & Brian are available online and by telephone for counselling during business hours (EST) and will travel to your location to give interactive workshops, presentations or consultations for travel expenses and a budget-conscious speaking fee. Bonnie or Brian speak at conferences across Canada and abroad, individually and together. They will develop a workshop or presentation to suit the needs of your organization or conference. They can be reached at 416-264-8000 or via email at bonnie@fasworld.com and brian@fasworld.com.

Mission Statement

FASworld is committed to:
Provide support and information to parents, caregivers, and professionals dealing with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), as well as individuals living with FASD.
Encourage the development of new programs for individuals with FASD and their families, women of childbearing age and their partners, and individuals struggling with alcohol and substance issues.

Work locally, nationally and internationally, with other support groups, individuals and organizations, who indicate a common interest in some or all of these approaches to dealing with FASD.

Communicate the message that there is no established safe threshold of alcohol.

Build public awareness of FASD, its secondary disabilities, the size and scope of this preventable disorder, and the personal and economic costs of FASD to our society.

What We Do

Work with other organizations locally, provincially, nationally and internationally to build awareness of fetal alcohol disorders and their links with learning and behaviour problems; school interruption, juvenile delinquency; alcoholism and drug addiction; and teenage pregnancy.

Provide volunteer telephone counselling and recommend or provide other resources for families and professionals who wish to know more about FASD.

Provide a monthly support group for families in the Greater Toronto Area.

Assist parents in attending IEPs and other school meetings.

Arrange speakers for workshops, conferences and media interviews

History

FASworld Canada was founded in 1999 Bonnie Buxton and Brian Philcox when, having finally obtained a diagnosis of ARND (Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder) for their daughter Colette, they realized that they were part of a sub-culture in our society. Although they had met many knowledgeable families and a smattering of professionals at FAS conferences and on FASlink, they realized that most professionals in education, justice, medicine and social work fields were largely unaware of the scope and ramifications of FASD in our society.

As lifelong professional communicators themselves, they decided to create an organization that would bring awareness of the tragedy of FASD to the media, to governments, to all professionals who needed to know about the disabilities of those they were dealing with on a daily basis, and ultimately, the general public.

Then, in collaboration with their friend and colleague, Teresa Kellerman of Tucson, they created the first FASDay (International FASD Awareness Day) on September 9, 1999. Since then, FASDay has been celebrated in hundreds of communities around the world. For more about FASDay go to FASDay Get Involved

That same year, Bonnie and Brian developed the symbol that sets apart those who advocate for individuals who struggle with FASD. The FAS Knot has been used around the world to identify those who care and who are working for prevention and support these individuals.